STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --- Sophomore Taylor Parker earned the first Northeast Conference individual title of her young career as the Blackbird was victorious in the Shot Put on the first day of the 2018 NEC Indoor Track & Field Championships Friday at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex.
Parker, who entered the conference meet with seven top three finishes and a pair of wins, tossed an ECAC-qualifying 47-2.50 (14.38m) to earn the Blackbird women their first crown of this year's championships. The mark was less than an inch short of her season high of 47-3.00 (14.40m) from January's UAlbany Great Dane Classic.
The win, coupled with fellow sophomore Stephanie Esogenwune's sixth place and season-best showing in the Long Jump (17-4.00 / 5.28m), gave LIU 13 total points and slotted the team in sixth place overall in the team standings.
OTHER DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- In the running events, LIU secured at least two spots in five different finals: the 60 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 500 meters, and 60 meter hurdles.
- Junior Shantae McDonald will be competing for the most Saturday titles of any Blackbird after posting the fastest time in the 200 (24.69) and 60 hurdles (8.70) as well as the third-best time in the 400 (57.50).
- Freshmen Ashley Blackwell (5th in 60 meters - 7.84; 5th in 200 meters - 25.59) and Toni Glatz (8th in 60 meters - 7.92; 3rd in 200 meters - 25.33) each qualified for two finals and will be battling each other for the 60 and 200 meter championships.
- Sophomore Angeli Andre also qualified for the 200 meter final (8th, 25.71), giving LIU an event-high four of eight finals participants.
- Representing LIU in the 500 meter final will be junior Cayla Coleman (5th, 1:18.15), freshman Tara Hernandez (7th, 1:18.38) and junior Zaahira Deboise (8th, 1:18.41).
- Joining McDonald in the 400 meter battle will be junior Eugenie Hue (57.66) while freshman Courtney McNeil will go for 60 meter gold (6th, 7.85) alongside Blackwell and Glatz.
- Finally, juniors Deja Johnson (6th, 9.26) and Michaela Webster (7th, 9.32) will line up beside McDonald in the 60 hurdles championship.
Saturday's finals action will begin at 9:15 a.m. with the women's triple jump and weight throw.